DFE are seeking views on proposals to update Working Together to Safeguard Children, the Children’s Social Care National Framework, and the policy that will underpin the development of multi-agency child protection teams regulations.
Why your views matter
Your feedback will help shape future policy and guidance for child protection and family support services in England.
The consultation includes proposals to:
- strengthen family help, including making better use of family networks
- improve multi-agency child protection arrangements for all children
- strengthen independent scrutiny and continuous improvement across safeguarding partnerships
- support more effective decision making across safeguarding partners
- develop multi-agency child protection teams
They want to understand whether the proposals are clear, practical to implement, and likely to improve outcomes for children and their families.
Who should respond?
- local authorities
- health organisations and professionals
- police forces
- schools, colleges and education providers
- voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations
- parents and carers
- anyone with an interest in improving outcomes for children and families
The consultation is now live on GOV.UK
These proposals form part of wider reforms to strengthen clarity, accountability and multi-agency working. They seek views on updates to the statutory framework for help, support and protection for children and families, which will inform revisions to both sets of statutory guidance and the development of MACPT regulations.
Feedback will also inform wider safeguarding guidance and related policy development.
The consultation seeks views on:
- Accountability of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, including leadership, accountability and the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer;
- multi-agency child protection teams;
- the delivery of Family Help and earlier more joined-up support for families;
- family networks and family group decision making;
- a strengthened response to extra familial harms;
- child protection for looked-after children;
- responding to potential for extreme violence;
- enduring relationships for looked after children and care leavers;
- implementation of the Children’s Social Care National Framework.
The consultation closes on 4 September 2026.
From July to August, you are invited to attend consultation webinars, offering an opportunity to explore and better understand the consultation, alongside giving your views. This includes:
Two general overview webinars:
Please note - both sessions will cover the same information, please only sign up to one of the general overview webinars
Click here to register for general overview webinar 1: Thursday 30 July, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Click here to register for general overview webinar 2: Thursday 27 August, 1:30 – 3:00pm
Four sector-specific webinars:
Click here to register for local authority webinar: Wednesday 12 August, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Click here to register for health webinar: Monday 3 August, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Click here to register for police webinar: Tuesday 21 July, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Click here to register for education webinar: Monday 13 July, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Five deep-dive webinars on key policy proposals:
Click here to register for ‘Voice of children and their families’ webinar: Tuesday 1 September, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Click here to register for ‘Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements’ webinar: Wednesday 19 August, 10:00am – 11:30am
Click here to register for ‘Help and support’ webinar: Thursday 6 August, 13.30 - 15.00
Click here to register for ‘Protection’ webinar: Tuesday 28 July, 10:00am – 11:30am
Click here to register for ‘Improving outcomes’ webinar: Thursday 23 July, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Capacity is limited to 250 registrations per event, so please sign up early to secure your place.